Matsumae Takahiro

Matsumae Takahiro (10 December 1829-9 June 1866), born Matsumae Tamekichi, was a daimyo who ruled the Matsumae Domain.

Biography
Matsumae Tamekichi lived an unusual early life. He changed his name after childhood and while learning in the family estate in Edo he learned to speak English. In 1849 he became the Matsumae daimyo at the age of 20, but he was considered a tozama daimyo: an "outsider".

In November 1864 he was made a Roju, an elder in the court, and was also made a Kokushi (Governor), managing Oshima Prefecture in southern Hokkaido. These two positions were unheard of for tozama daimyo, and in 1865 he opened Hyogo to foreign trade. Because he did so without Imperial permission, he lost his rank and his titles and lands. In 1866 he returned to Matsumae and died of fever.